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Good News for PSG: Rashford and Watkins Unlikely to Start Together in Second Leg
Paris Saint-Germain head into the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal against Aston Villa with a sense of confidence—and now, with what could be a major advantage. The French side leads the tie 3-1 after the first leg at the Parc des Princes and travels to Villa Park for the decider on Tuesday, April 15.
Emery casts doubt on Rashford-Watkins pairing
Ahead of the crucial clash, Unai Emery revealed that he hasn’t had the chance to test Marcus Rashford and Ollie Watkins as a starting duo in training, making it unlikely that both will start together on Tuesday.
This could be a game-changing decision, as Rashford—on loan from Manchester United—and Watkins are Aston Villa’s main attacking threats.
Tactical edge for PSG
The absence of Villa’s preferred strike partnership could play into PSG’s hands, especially given the recent defensive solidity shown by the Parisians. Center-backs Marquinhos and Lucas Hernández have been instrumental in securing clean sheets and controlling opposition forwards in Europe.
The match is set to kick off at 9:00 PM local time in England, which corresponds to 3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM PT in the United States.
What’s next?
The winner of this tie will face the victor of the blockbuster matchup between Arsenal and Real Madrid in the Champions League semifinals, a clash that has also drawn global attention.